This is EXACTLY why I left my job at Microsoft recently. The system is set up for people who have been there a dozen years and go to the top because the company grew under them. Because it has grown so big, it would have taken me twenty years to get where I wanted to go, and that would have been very fast because the company can't grow as fast as it once did. I know several people who left for similar reasons.

I have since joined a much smaller company where the opportunities are much greater for someone who is younger and willing to take on whatever work and responsibility necessary to succeed.

Penelope-

I sometimes disagree with some of your splitting of generational characteristics in the workplace…but you are spot on in this post. I agree that many younger workers are quick to work as a team. (Not that there are not some who would gladly throw a co-worker under the bus to get ahead). They also are enthusiastic to build friendships and network with others….even old guys like me.

I read the whole post on Yahoo Finance, and all of your points are good advice for people who want to get ahead. The part about being nice is very important. People think this goes without saying, but I see it all the time that those who are liked and who work to help others achieve their goals are the ones who succeed in the long run.

I speak about the importance of business relationships and networking skills, and it sometimes surprises people that to get real business referrals from their network that I teach they must give give give. If they are too focused on what they can get, they get less.

I'm surprised at the vehemence against this line of thinking on the Yahoo website; I tried to comment but couldn't find the button… apparently you've touched a raw nerve with some Gen Xers.

I like that it's against conventional wisdom, and it's spot on the pulse of the frustration of my generation (I'm 25). One of the shocks I had when I went from college to the workforce was the snails pace, lack of incentives, and intellectual dullness that pervades almost any entry level job. Face time is one of the harshest and most counterproductive ways to reward success. It's simply not an incentive, when due to the instability of jobs today we realize that even working diligently for 5-10 years at a company can be taken away with two weeks notice.

Any business's ultimate goal is Production. The ones that product the most at the least cost will have the most profit and thrive. So it makes sense that businesses that are the most flexible in incorporating a meritocratic environment with incentives to innovate will thrive. Unfortunately the more established companies already have a system that works, and it's difficult to convince someone to mess with something that's making you money. So they're not going to make any meaningful changes, regardless of what they say. Jumping out and starting our own companies is one of the few ways to really set up an environment where we can learn.

And honestly there's the harsh reality of demographics… We've got a huge group of increasingly healthy older workers that are staying longer in the workforce. Managerial and decision-making positions are limited in ratio to order-driven positions (too many chiefs, not enough indians is not a way to run a business).

Entrepreneurial business may be one of the few options we have if we want to realistically have any kind of intellectual stimulation before we're 35 and still a replaceable commodity because all we've done is filing and excel spreadsheets for the past ten years.

WOW. I came to this site after reading your article on Yahoo. From the comments above, and as a boomer, it is no certainly no surprise how easy it is to take advantage of gen X and Y. As they run around in teams congratulating each other and generally having a mutual admiration society meeting, AND boo-hooing about how "hard" work is, the real achievers are out getting things done. There is a reason it's called WORK people!!!

Well I'm an X'er. And we're known to be self sufficient, cynical, and like to slack off. We don't need praise to feel good about ourselves like the Millennials (the coddled generation), but we need feedback to see how we're doing.

Anyway enough about the generation stuff, this article is about how to sidestep corporate hierarchy.

I do like the idea of job hopping. That is probably the fastest way to work around the traditional, stuffy corporate hierarchy. You can also change job to a newer, smaller company that is started by an X'er or a Millennials. They probably won't have that ridged hierarchy that traditional, big companies have.

Also you totally have to be nice and kiss ass. And you have to be seen by the higher ups so you can do that. So go to every company function, happy hour, meeting, etc. Getting your face out there and being buddies with your bosses is a good way to beat the system.

It's funny. I was told that I was on an inter-departmental team at the beginning of this year. All masters-level people in my department (there's 3 of us) would be on a "Vision Team".

Now, 6 months later, I ask my supervisor, "When is our Vision Team going to meet?"

She replies, "We've been meeting. When we feel like we need input from the regular hall staff, I'll be sure to let you know."

It's nice that my desire to be on a team started out to be expected, and then later, my position as a whole was deemed too inferior to be part of the glorious team.

Penny,

I agree with the first three, getting on an important team project, job hopping, and starting one's own business – sought of, this one can be difficult. But I have my doubts about the being nice suggestion. I think it is more important to be liked, but that differs from being nice.

Case in point, my current replacement at an old job is well liked, hence his rehire after leaving, and his subsequent promotion. But he is anything but nice, at least to those below him in position. Our superiors like him and I guess he is nice to them. But everyone else sees him as a hack, and complain to me about it.

Being liked is not the same as being nice, but I suppose on occasion we find people who exhibit both qualities.

On a side note, I'm off to visit home after 14 years. Leaving at the end of Dec and returning at the end of January.
Fight the good fight in the meantime:)

PT,
Oops. Once again, your generational bias missed the mark. TEAMS require competition. As a communications instructor in college, this is probably the strongest bond between Baby Boomers and Gen Y. Both generations mistrust the Gen X self esteem model, i.e, "everyone gets a trophy at the soccer game". TQM was invented by Baby Boomers and Gen X/Gen Y electronic customer service has effectively derailed any advances made in corporate team work. The NY Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, LA Lakers, three mighty teams are very competitive. It's called Capitalism". Your advice is sound, however the Gen X inferiority complex manifests itself in your writing.